The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-02-12
AMERICAN v
The Ancient Fruit Of the Mediterranean
Now One Of CalifOrnla's Products

From ancient writings. including the
Holy Scriptures, it can be ascertained
That the olive is one of the oldest known
fruit. The Mount of Olives. heal Jcru-
salem, is famous in history. Long before
butter was known olive oil was used in
the preparation of food. Large %quanti-
ties of the oil and fruit have from time
to time been imported here from the
shores of the Mediterranean Sea,
whence most Of the product has been
obtained. The climate of California,
not being unlike that of the Mediter-
ranean, was considered suitable for the
Srowth Of the olive, and m experiment
wa; made which has proved successful.
The tree ITSELF pretty nd ornamental.
IL spring-time it is covered with a pro-
fusion Of white flowers and in winter it
has all evergreen foliage. When ready
for the harvest it is so prolific that the
branches bend under the weight of the
fruit. Olive wood is also beautiful, and
was chosen as parts Of the ornamental
ton of the spacious and magnificent
Solomon's temple. The oil is consid-
cred by many as something sacred. As
such it is used in CONSIDERATIONS and cor
o%nations. The ancients used the sprays
OF olive leaves to crown their great
men, as it was believed to be an em-
blem of purity and peace. 1t was con-
sidcred the highest honorto be crowned
with olive leaves. In time of war an
olive branch borne in the hand was a
token of peace, and is even now spoken
Of as such.
The olive tree lives for a long time.
Some of the trees on the Mount of o.
ives, in Judca, are said to be fifteen
feet in diameter and over two thousand
years old, while that in the Vatican at
Rome has a record of ovcr Il thousand
years. The olive is very hardy, and
will endure treatment which would
kill other fruit trees. If infected
with insects the entire head can be
cut off and thrown away, while
the trunk will sprout again with re.
newed vigor. In Southern California il
has prospercd beyond expectation. Be.
ing sensitive to excessive heat or cold,
its home is in the semi-tropical belt,
represented by the Pacific slope of the
United States. 1t prospers best near
the sea, but can be cultivated a short
distance inland. With ordinary cul-
ture the olive in Europe will produce
over twenty gallons of oil per acre, be-
sides allowing Il large quantity Of the
fruit to be used for eating. Although
vet in its infancy in this country, ex-
perts have said that the oil produced
in California is equal to any which has
been imported. Growers say the Cali
fornia coast from Point Conception to
San Diego is equal to that between
Geneva and Naples for the production
Of olives. The importations amount to
a large sum annually, and if the best
olive oil can, as is claimed, be produced
here in sufficient quantities, that prod
uct will form another addition to the
wealth of the United States. So far as
the curing of the fruit is concerned, eX-
pericnce is likely to teach the proper
treatment, as it has with the raiSin crop.
The cuttings of two trees planted in
1876 Welded well in 1SS4-the ordinary
time for bearing being ten years. The
crop of these two trees was then seven
tv-tive gallons of fruit, which sold
readily ut one dollar per gallon after
being prepared for the table. When
taken from the trees the grower realized
scvcnty-tive cents per gallon. The
same trees were loaded down with fruit
this season, and will produce n large
crop that can be readily sold at the
place of growth at eighty-five cents per
gallon. The trees are planted on hill
sides. about thirty-five or forty feet
apart. to allow for expansion, as they
will live and produce for centuries. An
acre of ground will hold about forty
trees. The small fruit is used for oil,
while the large or queen olive is picked
for eating.
Olive trees can be planted on rocky
lands where the vine would fail. and
the cost of planting the former is about
onc-third of the latter. The crops are
o easily gathered than grapes, while
the outfit for preparing olive oil is
about onc-tcnth of that necessary to
produce wine. The insect pests can be
fought much easier, and with less cost
than the ~phylloxcra or other enemies of
the vine. Being SO prolific it becomes
sooner profitable to the grower. and
each year after bearing the olive tree
produces u good crop until it reaches its
full development. when it pays a much
larger revenue than a vineyard, bear
ing a crop Of from thirty to forty gall
-- k.A .... .N NE. liza t.AA